Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: the employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of electrical shock and burns: a) At the inspection site, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard by using an "underground elbow" phasing meter (FPL#561-A-239)and purposely attempting to contact bare energized parts(23KV phase to phase & 13.2KV phase to ground) with a probe of the meter that was not designed to be used on bare energized parts, on or about 04/02/94. b) At the inspection site, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard by being too close to bare energized parts or conductive objects(phasing meter FPL#561-A- 239)that were in contact or near contact to bare energized parts(23KV phase to phase & 13.2KV phase to ground)in violation of acceptable approach distances without using any type of acceptable insulation, on or about 04/02/94. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is to train employees on safe operation of phasing meters and verify employee comprehension of training on all phasing equipment available for use by the employees on an ongoing basis at intervals necessary to maintain familiarity with all equipment that is available for use. Eliminating similar types of phasing equipment with different functions and multiple models of equipment for the same functions would reduce the possibility of confusion. Employees must wear rubber gloves rated for the voltages exposed to when safe approach distances are violated or use some other equivalent means to provide insulation from the energized parts.